In Britain, the July 4 polls did not bring any major surprises compared to opinion polls, but they do represent a complete reversal of the political landscape in the country so far and in many ways are historic. Workers triumphed and returned to power after 14 years with Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and 410 seats. Its performance approaches, but does not surpass, that achieved by Tony Blair in 1997.
The records
The heaviest defeat ever for the Conservatives
- After 14 consecutive years in power and having changed 5 leaders, the Conservatives emerge from the polls seriously wounded. Their performance is the worst in modern history. With only 9 seats still to be decided, they are guaranteed only 119 seats against 410 for the Labour Party. See where the lost Conservative seats went.
More women than ever before
- The House of Commons will have more female MPs than ever before, bringing the number to more than 220 elected in 2019.
More independent MPs than ever before
- The British Parliament will have more independent MPs than ever before. Among them is former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. It is not only the Conservative crisis that has contributed to this. In the heavily Muslim areas where Labour claimed victory, they have lost seats to independents who have openly supported the Palestinians.Read more here).
Historic performance for three parties
- Liberal leader Sir Ed Davey announced it was the party’s best performance in a century. The Greens, who secured four seats, hailed a historic success. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK also entered Parliament for the first time, also with four seats. Farage himself secured the ticket. after 7 failed attempts.
Record abstention and cumulative nadir for the two main parties
- The British, as Keir Starmer, who will become the country’s 58th prime minister, has said, voted for change. But a remarkably large percentage also did not vote. Voter turnout hovered around 57 percent, the lowest since 1950 and the second lowest since the 1885 general election.
- Furthermore, the crushing defeat and loss of dozens of seats by the Conservatives means that the combined Labour and Conservative share of the vote is now below 60% of the total vote. This is the lowest recorded since at least 1923.